just in case anyone thinks – “well if free parties are shut down it doesn’t matter because we can always do licensed clubs” – think again
the PEL laws are being linked with the ASBO laws and extended
At the recent Labour Party conference Tony Blair announced that there was to be more anti-social behaviour legislation, and this to be implemented before the end of the year. I notice no old codgers heckled this bit of the conference and got put outside by the bouncers, and if the Tories were in power rest assured they would be even worse – “small governement” always seems to be backed by “large enforcement“of laws against those who don’t fit in with 100% free market ethos…
most of the planned laws involves giving the Police the right to decide there and then whether a licensed event should continue or a pub be allowed to trade, rather than cops just producing a report for the Council to decide at a later date (and thus giving the venue/promoters some leeway)
it could result in a licensed club night being shut down just because a local has called 999 due to a few moosers snorting a crafty line in the car park, or chavs (who were not even wanted in the first place) starting a noisy brawl outside the venue when ejected
you could spend hundreds on a night and just a handful of people who don’t know the score or have attended your night merely to cause trouble could fuck it up for you
it could end up in TSG cops switching off the power to the club system and herding the punters out with shields, batons if necessary, and many of the rules are specifically intended at addressing the “problem” of a “drug culture at clubs”
already Avsom (Bristol) police have launched “pre-emptive” strikes against licensed pubs where they think “rowdy young people” can be found, or drugs may also have been used; you’re having a pint with your mates and next thing you know there are cops everywhere asking for ID, nicking people who are a bit “too merry” and searching people with the electronic sniffer dogs
unfortunately with the chav/violence culture on the streets nowadays i can understand why things have come to this; but its worth all promoters being aware as I can see these new laws being also used to squash licensed dance music events if we are not careful..
